If you follow standard oral hygiene recommendations, then you are brushing your teeth twice per day with a good quality fluoride-based toothpaste. While many kinds of toothpaste on the market are healthy for your teeth, there are several harmful ingredients in toothpaste that can do more harm than good for your pearly whites.
Protect your teeth by learning which toothpaste ingredients to avoid so that next time you buy toothpaste at the pharmacy, you can choose a tube that promotes dental health rather than causing damage to your teeth.
1. Triclosan
Triclosan is an organic compound that has antibacterial properties. So, it is sometimes included in toothpaste to help prevent gum disease. Although triclosan is FDA-approved, it has been linked to thyroid function disruption and antibiotic resistance.
According to the American Dental Association, triclosan is no longer available in toothpaste in the U.S as of 2019, but you may need to throw out any old toothpaste containers that contain the ingredient.
2. Microbeads
Microbeads used to be found in toothpaste as a mildly abrasive agent to help remove food and debris and whiten teeth. Microbeads are made from insoluble plastics that cannot be digested and often end up in local waterways, adsorbing toxic chemicals and harming marine wildlife.
Like triclosan, microbeads are no longer found in new toothpaste in the U.S. due to the 2015 Microbead-Free Waters Act.
3. Charcoal
For the past few years, activated charcoal has grown in popularity as a whitening agent for toothpaste. While it may remove some surface stains, charcoal is not a beneficial ingredient to use on your teeth every day. Avoid charcoal toothpastes as they can:
- Wear down the enamel on your teeth
- Cause tooth sensitivity
- Stain or damage artificial teeth
If you are concerned about the color of your teeth, schedule an appointment with your dentist at Hinsdale Dental to discuss professional whitening options.
4. Sodium Bicarbonate (A.K.A. Baking Soda)
Baking soda is an abrasive ingredient that is found in many toothpastes on the market. While a little baking soda can wear away surface stains, the abrasive nature of the compound eventually wears away the enamel on your teeth, which makes them appear yellow and discolored.
The abrasive texture can also irritate the gums. The alkaline chemical makeup can disrupt the delicate pH balance in your mouth. It is best to avoid toothpaste products containing baking soda as the ingredient is not necessary for clean, healthy teeth.
5. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
SLS is a detergent found in many toothpastes. It is used to create the foamy feeling that you associate with cleaning your teeth. Unfortunately, SLS can cause skin irritation, and it aggressively irritates mouth ulcers.
Although SLS doesn’t cause a reaction in everyone, if you notice an increase in mouth ulcers, chapped lips, or skin irritation from your toothpaste, look to see if it contains SLS. If it does, throw it out and find a brand that is SLS-free.
Schedule Your Dental Exam With Hinsdale Dental
Along with your at-home teeth cleaning routine, visiting your dentist every six months for a check-up and professional cleaning is important.
Contact the team at Hinsdale Dental to schedule an oral exam to ensure your teeth are in good condition and ask any questions about the toothpaste you use. Call us at (630) 323-5200 or email our team at [emailprotected].
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FAQs
Be sure to avoid any toothpastes that contain activated charcoal. Too often, unregulated toothpastes containing extremely harsh particles end up causing serious enamel damage and permanent discoloration.
Which ingredients should I avoid in toothpaste? ›
Toothpaste ingredients to avoid
- Triclosan: a pesticide and hormone disruptor.
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): an irritant that causes canker sores.
- Titanium dioxide: classified by the Environmental Working Group as a possible carcinogen.
- Artificial dyes and colorings.
- Fluoride: which is toxic is ingested in large amounts.
One good thing that has come from the dialogue about toothpaste toxicity is the overall banning of triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal that reduces plaque and gingivitis.
What is the healthiest toothpaste to use? ›
For overall oral health, the Twice Oral Wellness Toothpaste with Fluoride is aptly named. It's packed with active ingredients dentists love, such as fluoride and xylitol. It's also the only toothpaste on our list that contains potassium nitrate, the same active ingredient Sensodyne uses to reduce tooth sensitivity.
What is the #1 dentist recommended toothpaste? ›
Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste
Aside from making eating and speaking uncomfortable, dry mouth increases patients' risk for dental caries. To combat this risk, recommend that patients use a high-level fluoride toothpaste, such as PreviDent 5000 Plus.
Is Sensodyne bad for your teeth? ›
The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs' Acceptance of Sensodyne Toothpaste is based on its finding that the product is safe and has shown efficacy in helping to prevent tooth decay, and to relieve sensitivity in otherwise normal teeth, when used as directed.
What is the best active ingredient in toothpaste? ›
Fluoride. Fluoride is considered to be the most effective caries-inhibiting agent, and almost all toothpastes today contain fluoride in one form or the other. The most common form is sodium fluoride (NaF), but mono-fluoro-phosphate (MFP) and stannous fluoride (SnF) are also used.
What ingredient in toothpaste causes dry mouth? ›
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), the most widely used detergent in toothpastes, has been reported to cause adverse effects on oral soft tissues.
Which toothpaste is banned in USA? ›
The US FDA had banned triclosan from consumer anti-bacterial soaps and body washes a couple of years ago. Leading dental care company Colgate-Palmolive (India) has removed triclosan from its toothpaste following a global move by the parent company.
colgate contains many types of chemicals: sodium lauryl sulphate has been found to be quite corrosive and harmful to skin tissue says a report by the American College of Toxicity.
Is Sensodyne toothpaste banned? ›
NEW DELHI: The central consumer protection authority (CCPA), a top statutory body, has banned ads of Sensodyne, a toothpaste brand, for marketing it with the labels “recommended by dentists worldwide” and “world's No 1 sensitivity toothpaste”, imposing a fine of ₹10 lakh, the government said in a statement on Tuesday.
What toothpaste to stay away from? ›
Avoid charcoal toothpastes as they can: Wear down the enamel on your teeth. Cause tooth sensitivity. Stain or damage artificial teeth.
What toothpaste does a holistic dentist recommend? ›
Humphrey recommends Wellnesse, Boka or Risewell toothpastes. We also recommend the use of oral probiotics, such as Revitin toothpaste or Burst oral probiotic tablets. the floss in a C-shape and against the tooth surface. Avoid smoking and vaping.
Is crest or colgate better? ›
Crest vs Colgate: Which Is the Better Toothpaste? So either of these two options appears to be the best, and both Colgate Total and Crest Pro-Health have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.
Do dentists recommend Tom's of Maine toothpaste? ›
The ADA Council on Scientific Affairs' Acceptance of Tom's of Maine Simply White Clean Mint Toothpaste is based on its finding that the product is safe and has shown efficacy in helping to prevent tooth decay, and to whiten teeth by removing surface stains, when used as directed.
What toothpaste do dental hygienists use? ›
Dental hygienists use a flavored polishing toothpaste made of pumice, flavoring, and usually a tiny amount of fluoride. This normally follows the scaling process, which is when hygienists use metal tools to scrape plaque and tartar from your teeth. The polishing toothpaste is much more coarse than regular toothpaste.
Does arm and hammer toothpaste damage enamel? ›
All ARM &HAMMER™ toothpastes fight cavities, provide a gentle cleaning and an enamel safe way to effectively remove plaque.
What toothpaste does the American Dental Association recommend? ›
Crest Tartar Protection Toothpaste: Specially formulated to prevent tartar buildup and protect against gum disease and cavities. Colgate Total Advanced Deep Clean Toothpaste: Provides 12-hour protection against germs and tartar buildup, actively fighting bacteria along the gum line.
